Uni steps in to help sick turtles

Researchers at James Cook University (JCU) are trying to cater for sick turtles as the number of strandings in north Queensland continues to soar.

The number of stranded turtles is up almost 700 per cent on previous years and scientists believe it will continue to rise.

The Townsville Turtle Hospital has been unable to cope with the influx and scientists at the JCU School of Veterinary Science are setting up extra tanks.

JCU virologist Ellen Ariel says there is no funding for the rescue effort yet and they are asking for donations.

"The reason the turtles are in such bad condition is because the seagrass beds have been destroyed and they're not going to recover for quite a while," she said.

"It may actually take years, so we're looking for a long-term solution - we don't actually have any solutions at the moment but we're doing the best we can.

"We're trying to raise some money to get some filters and pumps and tanks.

"We got donations from the Sea Turtle Foundation for $2,000 so that we can feed them for a little while and provide them saltwater, the problem is in that little while it's not going to solve the problem."